rd. Lord Ronsdale mounted leisurely and entered the room.

"I didn't expect to have the honor of a call from your lordship," said
the guest of the Golden Lion, bowing low. "If your lordship had
indicated to me his pleasure--"

The nobleman whipped a greatcoat from his shoulders and tossed it to the
landlord. "Was coming to the village on another little matter, and
thought I might as well drop in and see you," he observed to the guest,
"instead of waiting for you to come to Strathorn House. You have the
stock-lists and market prices with you?" he queried meaningly. The other
answered in the affirmative. "Very good, we will consider the matter,
and--you may go, landlord."

But when the innkeeper had taken his departure no further word was said
by the nobleman of securities or values; Lord Ronsdale gazed keenly at
his companion. Without, the wind swept drearily down the little winding
street, and sighed about the broad overhanging eaves.

"Well," he spoke quickly, "I fancy you have a little something to tell
me, Mr. Gillett?"

"'A little something?'" The latter rubbed his hands. "More than a
little! Your lordship little dreamed, when--"

"Spare me your observations," broke in the nobleman. "Come at once to
the business on hand." His voice, though low, had a strident pitch;
behind it might be fancied strained nerves.

"As your lordship knows, good fortune or chance favored me at the start;
that is, along one line, the line of general investigation. The special
inquiry which your lordship mentioned, just as he was leaving my office,
proved for a time most illusive."

"You mean the object of John Steele's visit to the continent?"

"Exactly. And the object of that visit solved, I have now a matter of
greatest importance to communicate, so important it could only be
imparted by word of mouth!" The police agent spoke hastily and moved
nearer.

"Indeed?" Lord Ronsdale's thin, cold lips raised slightly, but not to
suggest a smile; his eyes met the police agent's. "You have reached a
conclusion? One that you sought to reject, perhaps, but that wouldn't be
discarded?"

Mr. Gillett looked at him earnestly. "You don't mean--it isn't possible
that you knew all the while--?"

The white, aristocratic hand of Lord Ronsdale waved. "Let us start at
the beginning."

"True, your Lordship," Mr. Gillett swallowed. "As your lordship is
aware, we were fortunate enough in the beginning to find out through our
agent in Tasmania tha